“Ann is crossing the line.”

Carl immediately realized what Edgar meant.

“I will tell her. She is smart, so she will soon realize what you mean.”

Carl deeply bowed and was about to leave the room.

“Wait.”

Then, he looked back when hearing Edgar call him. There was a mean smile on his lips. That was… the smile he had worn from time to time when he prepared for fun pranks as a boy.

Carl’s heart beat fast at seeing that smile after so long.

“Do not tell her now. I will talk to her later.”

What on earth was he thinking? Carl didn’t know, but the loyal butler replied, “Yes.”

***

“Hmm…”

After finishing the first day’s duties as the duchess, Rubica was going through a pile of pamphlets on the table. They had been sent by designers who wanted to be in business with the Claymore Family. There were even some designers who mainly worked at the faraway capital but were offering to close all businesses and come if Rubica wanted their service.

“It’s hard to know only with pictures.”

Rubica studied the dresses drawn on the pamphlets. The description said some of them had been drawn with a famous opera singer as the model. But still, they were pictures. Rubica doubted they were the same as the actual dresses.

“Yes, it is. We should see the real dresses. They will immediately come if you call them.”

“But I don’t want to give them the sad news after they have come all the way here.”

“Madam, you don’t have to worry about the merchants. Even if you take just one quick look at their dresses, they will tell other noble ladies that Duchess Claymore loved them and sell them.”

Rubica had to try hard not to laugh. What was it called? Yes, her father had called it ‘cute fraud’ used to pull the last trigger of any hesitating customers.

Rubica read the pamphlets again. Designers in the capital were certainly different. Pamphlets from designers in the Claymore’s domain were comparatively simple, but those from the capital’s designers were different even in the covers. They were decorated with gold and silver ink and looked splendid. Moreover, the designs drawn in them were luxurious out of the neighborhood designers’ reach.

Rubica’s heart had already flown to the capital and ordered at least a dozen different dresses from every designer.

‘But it will be hard to order new dresses afterward if I order them from the capital’s dress shops now.’

People might say it would be too much to order new dresses after already ordering dresses in the latest style from the capital.

Rubica decided to be patient for now to spend more later.

She concluded it would be better to order dresses in the styles she liked regardless of the trend from the designers within the Claymore’s domain.

“But summoning designers from the capital would be too much. I will choose among the nearby designers.”

Ann quickly started to find and pick pamphlets from designers within the Claymore domain.

“You are so thoughtful and wise.”

“Hum?”

Why was she saying Rubica was thoughtful? Rubica was confused to hear a compliment she didn’t deserve. Ann misinterpreted that confused expression and smiled as if to say she knew it all.

“You can summon designers from the capital and order luxurious and expensive dresses in the latest style if you want, but you decided to hire designers within the domain instead.”

No. It wasn’t like that at all.

Rubica was just being smart to get both simple and elegant but beautiful dresses and luxurious and expensive dresses in the latest style.

“Ha, haha.”

But she didn’t explain it to Ann. She just laughed instead while feeling guilty. Ann was thinking she was so great, but what would she think if she ordered dozens of dresses from the capital’s dress shops in winter?

‘No, I cannot hesitate now…’

I’ve made my mind to spend as much as I want no matter what anyone says. Rubica reminded herself again. Spending money without caring about others’ thoughts wasn’t easy as she had thought.

Why was she judged every time she decided to buy something or invest in someone? More than half of the year was left, and she hadn’t spent much to bring trouble to the household yet.

However, she was told it was wrong when she decided to invest in Sesar’s research and was praised for being wise when she said she would order dresses from designers within the domain. Although she was being complimented, she didn’t feel good about it.

“Your Grace, Mrs. Taylor. It’s dinnertime.”

Rubica was trying to figure out what kind of expression she should wear when a maid knocked on the door. Ann quickly put down the pamphlets she’d been organizing.

“Oh, I didn’t know it was already this late.”

“It is normal to lose track of time when looking at things like these.”

Rubica handed the pamphlet she was holding to the maid who was clearing the table. Then let’s go to eat that cake I’ve ordered in advance. She was happily thinking so, but…

“His Grace will be at dinner, right?”

“Yes.”

“Jennie, please do Her Grace’s hair and makeup again.”

Then Ann made a fuss on if Rubica should use the new perfume or if it would be inappropriate for dinner.

“Is it necessary to prepare this much?”

“His Grace used to have a simple dinner in his office on most days.”

Ann said so as she put new pins on Rubica’s hair. She couldn’t be more serious-looking.

“But…”

Rubica was feeling like she was getting a stomachache again when thinking about the breakfast. She sat alone on the table in the middle of a huge dining hall for the duke and the duchess. Every servants and maid there reacted to her every move.

They became nervous even if she frowned just a little thinking that the food might not be to her taste. To see all of them being anxious about every expression of hers, Rubica understood why Edgar looked so cold without having any change of expression.

It would be better to have some bread at the office than to dine alone while being watched by a dozen people who cared about his every movement.

“It must have been uncomfortable to dine alone in such a huge dining hall.”

“Yes, but we couldn’t eat with him… Carl did his best, but he didn’t even have a light dinner when he was busy.”

Ann grabbed Rubica’s hands and earnestly begged.

“He is coming out to the dining hall at least during dinnertime thanks to you. Thank you so much.”

Rubica didn’t know what to say to that. Ann looked so earnest.

‘But he will just be putting on a show as well for my reputation as it is the first day…’

More accurately, he was worried that people may judge him as someone who neglects his wife. However, Rubica couldn’t bring herself to be that cynical in front of Ann.

“Ann, there is no need to thank me. I will tell him to come down and dine more often.”

Of course, saying such a thing could anger Edgar.

But having such unhealthy and simple meals in the office could be bad later. Now, he was holding on as he was still young, but he would have to pay for it after he got old. Rubica had learned that through experience.

“Thank you so much, Your Grace.”

“It is what I should do.”

Ann smiled brightly.

“Yes, you care and worry about His Grace more than anyone else.”

Rubica smiled vaguely at that.

‘I, worrying about him? It can’t be.’

Rubica barely stopped herself from blurting that out.

***

When Rubica went down to the dining hall, surprisingly, Edgar was already there. She hadn’t been able to see him all day long.

Rubica held back a breath at seeing him in comfortable clothes.

He had buttoned up his collar and worn a cravat, but now, he was wearing a comfortable shirt. His collarbone seen between a couple of undone buttons looked sexy.

Of course, Rubica had seen him in his nightwear, but it had been dark then and she hadn’t been able to see him properly. She felt somewhat embarrassed at seeing his collarbone under the bright light of the mana stone lamps.

“… you’re late.”

Edgar spoke so as he drank some wine. His transparent blue eyes that glowed under his long, black eyelashes matched the mood. His silky black hair and eyes looked sexy, but his pupils were clear like those of an innocent boy’s. That combination felt so strange. He was so beautiful. Rubica couldn’t get used to that beauty no matter how long she looked at him.

“I’m sorry. Your Grace. It is my fault…”

Ann apologized instead. Edgar nodded, and a servant took out a chair and politely gestured to it. Edgar was sitting at the end of the long table and Rubica’s seat was right next to it.

‘You could have led me to the opposite end.’

It was a different awkwardness from what she had felt when eating alone in the large hall while being served by so many maids.

She found Edgar uncomfortable. Just being with him made her feel uncomfortable. Moreover, she didn’t like that she had to be on guard all the time because she didn’t know what he would say next. However, her eyes betrayed her heart and were diligently looking at Edgar.